by Jasper Abrahams
Dodgers Super Team
The reigning World Series Champions Los Angeles Dodgers come into the 2021 season eager to repeat and ready to defend their title. Locked and loaded with an array of weapons, the “super team” Dodgers went out and landed the most prized pitcher in the free agent market: Cy Young award winner Trevor Bauer. Bauer, 30, is coming off an incredible season where he finished with a 5-4 record, 73.0 IP, 100 K and a 1.73 ERA. Signing a three-year, $102 million deal this offseason, Bauer isn’t even expected to be the ace in this rotation, which is led by Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. Julio Urias and David Price are both able to provide quality innings throughout the rotation. In the bullpen, Los Angeles is equipped with top-tier arms. Kenley Jansen enters his 11th season with the club and will be the primary closer for the team as set-up arms include Blake Treinen and flame-throwing Busdar Graterol. Bridging the innings middle innings, L.A. is able to slot relievers Joe Kelly, Corey Knebel and even Tony Gonsolin into the game. Pen on paper, the Dodgers pitching staff is among the best in the game and will have no trouble facing tough competition.
If you think the Dodgers’ pitching staff is good, well, you should take a look at the batting lineup. One through nine is filled with power, speed and most importantly: runs. In the shortened 2020 season, Los Angeles blew the competition out of the water with a +171.0 Run Differential. (San Diego placed 2nd with +73.0) At the top, L.A. begins the lineup with 4x All-Star and former MVP Mookie Betts. Betts, one of the best players in baseball, was dealt to the Dodgers in a three-team trade with Minnesota and Boston in 2019. Following Betts is one of the best shortstops in the game, Corey Seager. Seager is expected to test the waters of free agency and land a hefty contract following this season. The Dodgers also are equipped with Justin Turner as he brings a plethora of power in any direction at Dodger Stadium. Former MVP and Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger slots fourth in the lineup and rising star Will Smith follows the crew behind the dish. Max Muncy, AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor take over first base, left field and second base, respectively, as they round out the bottom third of the lineup for Los Angeles. This 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers team, managed by Dave Roberts, holds the record for the most projected wins of all time with 104.1 wins entering the coming season. L.A. certainly has the talent and motivation to exceed that win expectation as all eyes are on them to repeat as World Champions.
Fernando Tatis Jr
San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. had one of the best off seasons in Major League Baseball history. The Dominican Republic native brings charisma, confidence and skill to his position. Cementing himself as the “face of baseball”, the accomplishments off the field began opening the door for marketability in baseball. To start, Tatis Jr. inked a mega-deal (14 years, $340 million) with San Diego, was named the cover athlete for MLB The Show 21 and partnered with brands such as Bolt 24, Adidas, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Hyperice. Oh, and he just turned 22. With less than a full season of experience under his wing, Tatis Jr. headlines the San Diego Padres’ rise to glory in the National League. Competing with the “super team” Los Angeles Dodgers, Tatis Jr. and co. will have plenty of marquee matchups this coming season. Anticipated to play his first full 162-game season, he brings a career 7.0 WAR along with 168 hits, 39 home runs and 98 RBIs to the table. The rising sensation could certainly add to his already impressive resume with an MVP title this season.
Mike Trout and his MVPs
Still the best player in baseball, Mike Trout finished fifth in American League MVP voting last season. In a recent interview, Trout was asked about it and responded, “I had a down year last season.” When a 3-time MVP, 2-time All-Star MVP and 8-time Silver Slugger states he had a rough season while placing fifth in MVP voting, the league should be on notice. The New Jersey native is practically unstoppable during his MVP seasons. A career .304 hitter at the plate, Trout averages nearly 180 hits, 40 home runs, 105 RBIs and 30 stolen bases through a full 162-game season. Entering his age 29-season, Mike Trout is still in the prime of his career and has expectations to accomplish more during his time with the Angels. With the MVP field wide open in the American League, Trout enters the season as the heavy favorite to take home the award.
Fans in stands
The COVID-19 pandemic struck the entire nation by storm. Affecting all the little details from local businesses to even causing all four major sporting leagues to stop play, COVID-19 derailed the world. Last June as optimism rose, Major League Baseball was given the “green light” to continue play through the pandemic but under specific and strict protocols: including no fans in attendance. Though this was a wrench in the playbook, teams and organizations would find ways to work around this problem. A revenue stream in addition to entertainment was at the forefront of team owners’ and general managers’ minds. To solve this solution, teams sold cardboard cutouts that were placed in the empty seats. With no noise or chatter from the rowdy and hostile fans, ball clubs used pre-recorded sound effects such as cheering, booing, and chanting and played them religiously throughout the game. This was a smart and creative way to deal with no fans in attendance. Entering the 2021 season, the expectation is a limited capacity for most to all teams. Having fans in attendance would boost the morale of teams, staff and most importantly: the players.
A full 162-game season
It’s been far too long since Major League Baseball has had a full 162-game season. In 2020, Major League Baseball played a shortened 60-game season which was the home to many unexpected circumstances: postponements, delayed travel, COVID protocols, quarantines and plenty more. Looking forward, the 2021 Major League Baseball season will bring a more organized and entertaining outlook to the sport. Pitchers will have to manage their workload in order to stay healthy through the season and hitters will need to keep their bats hot. Though only 60 games, slightly more than one-third of a full season, many would consider last year’s MLB awards a “fluke”. Trevor Bauer titled his 2020 National League Cy Young award, the “Mickey Mouse Cy Young award”. Other award winners include American League Cy Young Shane Bieber and MVPs Jose Abreu and Freddie Freeman. The 2021 season will surely be one to watch.
National League East Race
The National League East enters the new season as one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. We start at the top with Atlanta, who begins play as the slight favorites to win the division led by a rising rotation and an All-Star lineup, you’ll be sure to see the Braves in the postseason. Atlanta is led by Max Fried and Charlie Morton through the front innings as they can shut down any lineup. Rounding out the rotation are Ian Anderson, Drew Smyly and Kyle Wright. Comparably one of the best lineups in baseball, Atlanta will be no stranger to runs and offensive power this season. Driven by superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. and 2020 National League MVP Freddie Freeman, Atlanta’s lineup will be one to watch this season. Marcell Ozuna, Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley round out the lineup as they can bring damage to any extent. All the pressure is placed on Atlanta as it is their division to lose. Expected to take home the division crown, Atlanta won’t be content with anything less.
The Mets… The Mets… The Mets are back and ready to contend for a postseason appearance. Led by new management under billionaire Steve A. Cohen taking reins of the ownership, Cohen implemented a new standard for Mets baseball: all gas, no brakes. With this, Cohen went out and landed the top shortstop in baseball, Francisco Lindor, as well as a plethora of impact players. Starting catcher James McCann will look to shine in Queens in addition to arms Taijuan Walker, Trevor May, Aaron Loup and Mike Montgomery. With a pitching staff nearing full health, Cy Young favorite Jacob deGrom leads the way as Carlos Carrasco, Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman follow. The bats should continue to stay hot as Jeff McNeil, Michael Conforto, Dom Smith and J.D. Davis all look to have breakout years. If the amazin’ Mets could get hot down the stretch, they will be a team to key an eye on in the postseason.
The rest of the division, well, isn’t expected to compete for the division title or even a wild card position. The Washington Nationals, two years removed from World Series champions, have acquired and landed strong pieces, but frankly Atlanta and New York have more. Rising phenom Juan Soto will look to continue his rise to superstardom as he contends for National League MVP in Washington. And then there’s Philadelphia and Miami. As for Philly, they simply do not have enough. Besides top catcher J.T. Realmuto, Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm, they hold a below-average lineup. The rebuild around Realmuto and Bohm begins in Philly. In the 305, Miami is in strong contention to compete in a few years. The projected 2021 lineup features five players with under five years of experience and the rotation has an average of 1.27 MLB service time years. The future is bright and led by Sandy Alcantara, Sixto Sanchez, JJ Bleday, Jazz Chisholm and Max Meyer.
Will the Tampa Bay Rays repeat as American League Champs?
The Tampa Bay Rays, last year’s American League champions, were built for a 62 game shortened season. The “moneyball” Rays utilized mix-and-match gameplay and analytics to make it all the way to the World Series. 2021, a full season, will be a true test to the Rays’ unorthodox strategy.
The projected lineup for the coming season features of seven of nine starting players that were acquired via trade. Through this, Tampa Bay is simply known for finding “diamonds in the rough”. Randy Arozarena, last season’s playoff breakout star, is expected to play his first full season. 31st round pick Kevin Kiermaier had evolved into a cornerstone franchise player and defensive catalyst. Sixth round pick Joey Wendle provides a strong glove at the hot corner.
Stars Austin Meadows, Willy Adames, Brandon Lowe and Ji-Man Choi all provide the top of the lineup with contact, base hits and runs. After departing ways with ace Blake Snell this offseason, the Rays received backlash and outbursts among other teams and fans. But, this would only make the Rays stronger as they flipped Snell for cash and prospects that look to jumpstart the lead of the new era in Tampa Bay. Tyler Glasnow is a perennial name in the Cy Young race and looks to build on last season’s performance. The Rays landed three new arms to lead the rotation along with Glasnow. Lefty veteran Rich Hill lands as the number two starter, a household name Chris Archer and right-hander Michael Wacha. Unless you’re a die-hard Rays fan, you’ve probably never heard of half of their bullpen. Middle-inning relievers Collin McHugh, second-round pick in the 2013 draft Cody Reed, 28th round pick Ryan Sherriff, 34-year old Chaz Roe, 23rd pick Ryan Thompson, third-year player Diego Castillo, 30-year old Nick Anderson and ninth round pick closer Pete Fairbanks. What may look like a Division III roster full of names, the arms in the bullpen and certainly throw heat with movement too. Playing their cards the right way, Tampa Bay looks to compete and make it back to the World Series this year.
Are the Yankees the American League Favorites?
The New York Yankees, projected to take home the AL, come into the season looking for the perfect opportunity to strike. The ‘Chase for 28’ arises as New York has the pieces to a World Series roster. This offseason put all eyes on the Yankees as they were in the running for Cy Young award winner Trevor Bauer. But with Bauer landing in L.A., New York still needed rotational help. Newly acquired arms Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon look to make impacts in the rotation. The lineup brings an unprecedented amount of power: Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, Luke Voit, Gary Sanchez, Clint Frazier, DJ LeMahieu. (yes, that’s almost the entire lineup) A bounceback year for rising star Gleyber Torres is expected as he looks to prove he is a top shortstop in today’s game. But entering the season, the same question remains for New York: heath. The ability to stay healthy and keep the prized pieces on the field is their best bet to make a postseason push and ultimately hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy.
New faces, New places
This offseason was full of surprising movies that altered the landscape of Major League Baseball. The most prized free agent, Cy Young award winner Trevor Bauer, took his time while deciding where he would sign. Bauer analyzed his free agency though process by making breakdowns, teasers and YouTube videos to attract fans and build drama around his signing. At the end of it all, Bauer announced he would take his talents to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $102 million deal.
Besides Bauer, star players were dealt via trades. Nolan Arenado departs from the tanking Colorado Rockies to the NL Central favorite St Louis Cardinals in a very polarizing move. Nolan Arenado, the face of Colorado, begins a new journey with eight Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers under his belt. This is a huge win for St. Louis, but on the other hand the return for the Rockies is simply not enough. Out of the five prospects that land in Colorado, zero are in the top-five of their farm system. Highway robbery is the only way to describe this deal.
Aces Yu Darvish and Blake Snell landed in San Diego this offseason. It’s rare you see two aces get traded and land in the same destination but the Padres are piling together all the pieces they can get. On paper, in comparison to what they received versus what they gave away, the Padres swept in what they received. Two perennial and Cy Young award pitchers for eight prospects (one in top 10). The Padres are “all in” as they look to take down the L.A. Dodgers in the NL West.
The top shortstop in baseball, Fransisco Lindor, leaves the rebuilding Cleveland Indians and heads to the New York Mets. In what is a fantastic landing for Steve Cohen and New York, the amazin’ Mets have their eyes locked in on the postseason. Not giving too much in return, the Mets aced this move in all categories. Lindor aka “Mr Smile”, brings a positive, energetic and sparkling attitude to the team that certainly needs it.
Rookie of the Year race
This year’s rookie of the year race in both leagues brings tons of competition. In the National League, the future is certainly bright as Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes enters the season as the slight favorite. Hayes led his team, the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates, last year in WAR despite only having 85 at bats. Hayes will bring a large upside for the Pirates this coming season and beyond. Starters Ian Anderson and Sixto Sanchez could very much make a splash in the RoY race as the two provide plus mechanics and repertoires. Braves’ outfielder Chirstian Pachewill also was in the running but could possibly be overshadowed by the top stars at the top of the order.
The Rookie of the Year race in the American League is more competitive as more names make their mark in the race. The favorite and postseason star, Randy Arozarena, leads the way in Tampa Bay. Arozarena isn’t the only Ray in this race as number one prospect Wander Franco looks to make an impact as well. Seattle’s Jarred Kelenic sits behind the two in the race as the top prospect in the Mariners’ system looks to play his first full season in 2021. Starter Triston McKenzie will look to learn and progress behind Cy Young winner Shane Bieber in Cleveland. Chicago’s NIck Madrigal and Boston’s Bobby Dalbec enter the season the “longshots” to win the award. All in all, this year’s rookie class is filled with limitless potential in the plate, at the field and on the mound.
